Sam looked at his watch for the third time in as many minutes. He was clearly restless and his patience was disappearing rapidly. He had this *thing* about being on time, and Bertha *always* challenged this part of him.

“Bertha, would ya hurry it up please? Ernie and I waiting... and we’re gonna be late!”

Bertha listened patiently, but didn’t alter the pace at which she was finishing. She’d heard this little tirade more times than she could count, and had a long time ago ceased to be effected by it. She just rolled her hazel-green eyes, and refocused on applying her make-up. She wanted to look good for tonight. After all, she’d be seeing friends that she hadn’t seen in six months... and that included Edwardo.

“Sam, just cool it. We’re not going to be late,” she called from the bathroom. “We never are, because you always make sure that you start fussing about leaving at least an hour before we actually have to,” she explained in her soothing, gentle voice. Very little ever caused Bertha to become upset, or impatient.

Sam sighed audibly, flapping his arms helplessly at his sides, and continued to pace while pulling nervously at the uncomfortable collar of his dress shirt. At 38 years old, Sam’s habits weren’t about to change. Schedules were meant to be kept, protocols adhered to, and rules followed. It was just his *thing*.

With just a hint of gray showing at his temples, Sam was still an attractive man. His 6’ frame supported his lanky, well muscled, 190 pounds with ease. He had thick dark brown hair that ended at the base of his neck, blue-gray eyes, and a long straight nose. His broad chest and shoulders were accentuated by the well cut black suit he wore this evening. Ernie, also dressed in a dark suit, but looking a bit more out-of-place, just sat quietly on the couch, watching his friend and wishing that he wouldn’t get so up-set. Ernie didn’t like it when people got up-set.

After what seemed an interminable length of time, Bertha emerged, and announced that she was ready. Sam and Ernie both looked at her appraisingly. The young woman really looked pretty, they both silently decided. Bertha had very fair skin that complimented her carrot red hair and large, almond shaped, pale eyes. She was a bit short, only about 5’2”, and a bit ‘chunky’, weighing in at about 150 pounds, but she wore her size well. Sam couldn’t help but notice that Bertha had all the right curves in all the right places. Personally, he liked a woman with some meat on her bones, not like the skinny ones that seemed to inhabit Section. When Sam hugged a lady, he wanted to feel her, and not a bag o’bones.

Tonight Bertha was dressed in a lovely long, emerald green satin dress, with one of those black velvet wrap things that women liked to wear when they got dressed up. The neckline was suggestively low cut, revealing a deep cleavage and well endowed bustline. Sam could easily imagine falling into that narrow warm crevasse, and not fighting to get out! But mostly, Sam couldn’t take his eyes off of Bertha’s gorgeous smile and beautiful straight, white teeth. One smile from her and an entire city block would light up! Yes sir, he thought to himself, Bertha was a knock-out!

“Are you gentlemen ready?” she asked with an air of innocence that totally ignored her escorts’ previously dealings with impatience.

“Bertha you look really pretty tonight,” offered Ernie as he stood up, his eyes childlike with wonder as he gazed at his friend from behind his glasses. “I bet Edwardo won’t be able to stop looking at you.”

Bertha blushed slightly, as her smile grew even larger.

“Thank-you Ernie,” she replied sincerely, “”that’s very sweet of you to say. Do you *really* think Edwardo will notice?”

“Oh Bea, he’d have to be dead not to notice a *babe* like you,” chimed in Sam, barely remembering in time to pull his gaping mouth closed. Whew! The things this woman did to a man ought to be considered illegal, he thought as he gave her his most genuine smile of approval.

Grabbing his overcoat off the back of the couch with one hand, while gently placing his other at the small of Bertha’s back to guide her towards the door he glanced over at Ernie.

“O.K. crew, let’s get going,” Sam exclaimed, and the three well dressed friends headed out for an evening of gayety and fun at the Fraternal Order of Custodial Engineers’, Annual Dress Ball.

They arrived at the Grand Ball Room of the local Holiday Inn just after 8:30pm, and the room was already bustling with activity. Handing their tickets over at the registration table, the three made their entrance. Bertha’s heart beat faster as she scanned the room for Edwardo, Sam’s heart beat faster as he looked at Bertha, and Ernie’s heart beat faster in response to his friends being so happy. In moments they were absorbed by the swarm of friends and colleagues, all eager to say hello and get caught up on events.

As the evening worn on, drinks were shared, dinner consumed, and dessert nibbled at. Bertha had long since found Edwardo, and was blissfully dancing in his arms. Ernie sat at their assigned table and watched the activity around him. He liked to watch. It was fun. And Sam had quietly wandered off with a small group of others to attend a short business meeting. Closing the door behind them as they settle themselves in the adjacent hospitality suite, Sam took the nearest chair.

“Hell of a good turn out, eh Sam?” observed the guy sitting next to him.

“I think it’s even better than last year,” Sam responded, nodding his head. “I really think that changing from the Howard Johnson’s made all the difference.”

The other nodded his agreement silently as the President called the meeting to order.

“All right folks, if I can have your attention we can make this quick, and then we can all return to the party.”

Glancing around making sure he had everyone’s attention, he continued.

“It’s been a busy six months since our last conclave, but tonight let’s just focus on getting updates. We can leave details to be worked out in separate committee meetings. Sam, why don’t you start.”

Sam stood in front of his chair.

“O.K., in a nutshell... Adrian’s out, Operation’s in... and Michael and Nikita still don’t talk nearly enough,” he summarized with the last pronouncement getting a brief universal chuckle from all.

Giving them all a moment to settle down, their elected leader got them back on track again.

“Yes, we’re all sorry to hear about Adrian’s death. She was a formidable, but sweet lady who’ll be missed by a lot of folks here... and elsewhere,” offer the President in eulogy. “But more to the point, what’s going on with that loony, Operations. That guy should be locked up!”

“Come on Pete, we’ve been all through this before,” Sam responded slightly exasperated. “ Operations serves a purpose, despite all of the headaches he causes. Besides, he’s got his head stuck so far up his own butt that it makes *our* jobs that much easier. He’s so predictable.”

“True, true. Anything in particular happening with the Agency?”

“Ah... that’s Burt’s area now. You’ll have to check with him.”

“Oh yea, that’s right. I forgot that we voted to separate Section and the Agency. Burt?” he inquired looking around the room.

Sam reclaimed his seat, and listened patiently as reports were gathered from others. Burt from the Agency, Jesus from the Freedom League, Tiny from Red Cell, and the list went on. Each in their turn summarized their respective employers’ current activities. Lots of ‘goings-on’ as the Pete had stated earlier, but nothing really new.

“Good job people,” Pete offered in closing. “Just remember to make your reports regularly. Unless anything major comes up, the finance and planning committees will meet next month as scheduled. This meeting is adjourned. Everyone back to the party!”

As bodies rose and shuffled towards the door, Pete stopped Sam with a hand to his shoulder.

“Hey Sam,” he began catching the other’s attention. “Keep me updated on this Operations, Maddy thing. I’m concerned that we may need to get Dragon Lady a bit extra support. I know she took that thing with her husband a lot harder than she let on. Oh, one other item. Tell Ernie to quit playing with Birkoff’s computers. Other’s count on Birkoff occasionally screwing up, and it really messes up the scheduling when he gets too far ahead of the game. Jesus got really bent over that encryption code episode.”

“You know Ernie,” Sam replied nodding his head as an innocent smile crossed his lips. “He just likes to help... But I’ll mention it to him again.”

“Thanks Sam. I’d appreciate it.”

And the two companions followed the others back into the festive evening.

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